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Jenn Bragg's avatar

Oh! I had no idea Elizabeth Strout - my favorite author - has a new book out. (Am I less of a fan if I don't keep track of her new releases?) It's interesting what you say about the NYT lists - it would be interesting to investigate how they decide on the books they choose. I suspect there's a major machine behind the scenes, much to the ire of many a good writer who goes unnoticed.

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Pamela Drake's avatar

Good column. I will read some that you recommended but I also didn't like Ferrante. Every time I read a Hannah book I swear not to read another-so formulaic.

However I loved the true story of Virginia Hall. I can't imagine being that strong and brave but sometimes I tire of reading about French resistance. One would think the whole country resisted when collaboration was everywhere, especially among the gendarmerie.

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mary g.'s avatar

that list has some people losing their minds! I think I've read 30 of them--if you count "read all the way through." A few on the list are books I've started and then put down... I know Kristin Hannah from my former life when i lived in Washington State. She's the nicest person--and I'm so happy for her to have made the amazing jump from romance to mainstream fiction. That's not easy to do once you're pigeon-holed as a romance writer.

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